I Could’ve Shouted Stop
My youngest son has it now, four pine chairs
and the matching table with two insert
leaves. We usually used it without leaves,
four people, which was how many we were
when the boys were young. But now the youngest
of them has a place of his own, a wife,
and possession of that table with those
four pine chairs. For years that table rested
flat on the beams of the garage, the chairs
used in bedrooms or as extra seating
for guests, so when we decided it
was time for it to have a new life, it
also seemed right that it be refurbished.
Sanded smooth and new varnish brushed across
its yellowed grain. The electric sander
dutifully spinning, turning surfaces
to dust. And then I saw small tight looping
script linked from front to back, connecting four
well practiced, round shaped letters scratched
deeply by the tight-held pressure of a pen –
Right there in the wood, my youngest son’s name.
Four letters. Cursive. Finger-strangled. John.
And the sander kissed and caressed each mark,
turning the momentous strokes to dust.
I could’ve shouted ‘Stop’, but –
.
.
Written for Margo’s Tuesday Tryout
The last stanza. What a punch.
I actually burst into tears when Mr Misky sanded over those letters.
Then you smacked him?
Oh how sad that it’s gone. But a wonderful telling of the before, middle and after of the story.
It has a new life now, Viv, with endless possibilities for more stories with John’s family (not that there’s one in the ‘oven’ yet).
I wonder what could be more ephemeral than negative space. I’m glad you caught it, if only in words.
I KNOW.. and when we live so far from our Own childhood treasures, those little looping scrawls are part of our short history here, where we are now.. well said Misky. A now i will say what my children would hear me say… when we know it hurts but we know it is right.. ‘Ah Well’.. c
“Ah well” is the only sensible responsible if a person wishes to remain sane!
oh how I’d have wept to have lost such memories. great.job
Thank you, Emma!
Oh Noooo! Oh dear, biggest hugs Misky. Brilliant poem, well written and powerfully moving. Hopefully, when son has children, they will do the same and the table will cary on.
I hope so, too, Veronica. Lots of little scribblers playing at that table.
Wonderful work, this; Time sliding around, then captured, frozen, then gone. I enjoyed this tremendously.
Thank you, Ron. I’m pleased that you enjoyed it.
I have two boys too…great telling, Misky!
Thanks, Hannah!
You’re sure welcome, Misky…it’s always fun to find out what other’s have written for Margo’s Tuesday Tryouts isn’t it?
It sure is!